Mandatory statutory product quality and purity certifications issued under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (BIS Act) via the Manakonline portal, comprising the ISI Mark (Certification of Manufacturers Scheme I for industrial & consumer goods) and 6-digit alphanumeric HUID Gold Hallmarking for jewellers
Under BIS hallmarking regulations, selling gold jewelry without a laser-etched 6-digit alphanumeric Hallmark Unique Identification (HUID) code is strictly illegal across all notified districts in India. Consumers can instantly verify the authenticity of their jewelry, purity level, and the jeweller's registration using the official 'BIS Care' mobile app.
đĄ A BIS Certification is the premier national seal of product quality and safety in India. It encompasses two major systems: the ISI Mark (Scheme I), which certifies that manufactured products (like electrical appliances, helmets, and packaged water) conform to rigorous Indian Standards (IS Code); and Gold Hallmarking (with a 6-digit alphanumeric HUID code), which certifies the exact purity (e.g. 916 for 22K) of precious jewelry. Selling QCO-notified goods without a BIS license is a punishable criminal offense.
Navigating statutory quality marks across Indian industry sectors.
| Quality Mark | Administering Agency | Covered Products | Key Distinctive Mark |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIS ISI Mark | Bureau of Indian Standards (Scheme I) | Industrial, electrical, safety goods, cement, steel, water | Iconic ISI logo + Indian Standard Code (e.g. IS 1786) + CML number |
| Gold Hallmarking (HUID) | BIS Assaying & Hallmarking Wing | Gold and silver jewelry and precious artifacts | BIS triangle logo + Purity (22K916) + 6-digit alphanumeric HUID |
| BIS CRS Scheme | MeitY / BIS (Scheme II) | IT electronics, mobile phones, adapters, LED lamps | Self-declaration 'IS ... R-XXXXXXXX' without standard ISI logo |
| Agmark Certification | Directorate of Marketing & Inspection (DMI) | Agricultural food products (ghee, honey, spices, pulses) | Agmark grade label indicating agricultural purity standards |
Standard ISI certification takes 30 to 60 days including factory audit and third-party laboratory testing; Jeweller Hallmarking registration on Manakonline is approved automatically within 24 hours.
Application fee of âš1,000 + factory inspection charges (âš7,000 per man-day) + annual marking fee based on production quantum; Jeweller hallmarking registration is 100% free (âš0) for micro-enterprises.
Manufacturers having on-site testing laboratory facilities, calibrated machinery, and qualified quality control personnel matching the specific Indian Standard (IS); jewellers holding an active GSTIN and trade license registering on Manakonline.
Manufacturers producing goods covered under mandatory Quality Control Orders (QCOs, e.g. cement, steel TMT bars, helmets, packaged drinking water, electrical cables, toys); retail and wholesale jewellers selling gold and silver jewelry; electronic goods importers and manufacturers covered under the Compulsory Registration Scheme (CRS).
Determine the exact Indian Standard applicable to your product (e.g., IS 14543 for Packaged Drinking Water, IS 4151 for Helmets). Set up the mandatory in-house testing laboratory with calibrated instruments.
Visit manakonline.in, create a manufacturer profile under 'Product Certification Scheme (e-BIS)', and select the relevant IS standard.
Fill in factory details, manufacturing capacity, upload calibration reports, and pay the âš1,000 application fee online.
A BIS inspecting officer visits the manufacturing plant: verifies production processes, checks quality control logs, witnesses live testing of products in the in-house lab, and draws independent samples for sealed dispatch.
The drawn sealed samples are tested at an independent BIS/NABL accredited laboratory to verify absolute conformance to chemical and physical safety standards.
Upon passing laboratory tests, BIS issues the Certification of Manufacturer License (CML), assigning a unique 7-digit CML Number authorizing the manufacturer to emboss the official ISI mark on products.
Procedures for jewellers to register on Manakonline and manufacturers to renew licenses.
Retail and wholesale jewellers log into manakonline.in under 'Hallmarking of Gold / Silver', enter GSTIN and shop address, and receive an instant digital Hallmarking Registration Certificate.
Send manufactured jewelry lots to an authorized BIS-recognized AHC. The center conducts X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and fire assay testing, laser-etching the BIS logo, purity grade, and 6-digit HUID.
ISI licensees must submit quarterly production statements and pay the annual minimum marking fee on Manakonline to maintain active license status.
BIS officers conduct unannounced surprise audits and market sample pickups to ensure continuous adherence to quality parameters.
Verify product authenticity and jeweller credentials in real time using the BIS Care mobile application.
Install the 'BIS Care' app developed by the Bureau of Indian Standards from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
Click on 'Verify License Details', enter the 7-digit CML Number printed below the ISI mark on any product, and view manufacturer name, brand, factory address, and validity.
Click on 'Verify HUID', enter the 6-digit alphanumeric code laser-etched on the jewelry (e.g., A1B2C3), and view the exact purity (e.g., 22K 916), AHC centre name, and hallmarking date.
If a product carries a fake ISI mark or unverified HUID, use the 'Lodge Complaint' tab on the app; BIS enforcement officers conduct raids and seize counterfeit stock.
Standard remedial pathways when samples fail quality standards.
| Failure / Audit Defect | Governing Standard | Actionable Remedial Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Sample drawn during market surveillance fails laboratory testing | Clause 8 of Scheme of Testing and Inspection (STI) | BIS issues a Stop-Marking Order; immediately stop embossing the ISI mark, recall defective batches, overhaul testing procedures, and request re-testing of split control samples. |
| AHC laser engraving machine errors out during HUID etching | Manakonline HUID portal synchronization | The assaying center re-submits the batch lot on the national server; un-engraved items cannot be cleared from the center until HUID generation reconciles. |
| Jeweller registration certificate address does not match new GSTIN | Manakonline Profile Update Module | Submit an online amendment application with your updated GST registration certificate; the system automatically updates the hallmarking database within 24 hours. |
HUID stands for Hallmark Unique Identification. It is a unique 6-digit alphanumeric code (e.g., K9X2P4) laser-etched manually on every individual piece of gold jewelry at an Assaying and Hallmarking Centre. It provides complete traceability, showing the jeweller's identity, assaying centre, and certified purity on the BIS Care app.
No, the ISI mark is voluntary for most products, but it is STRICTLY MANDATORY for over 400 products notified under government Quality Control Orders (QCOs), including cement, packaged drinking water, steel bars, LPG cylinders, electrical immersion heaters, automotive tires, and two-wheeler helmets.
Under Section 29 of the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016, unauthorized use or counterfeiting of the standard mark is punishable with imprisonment for a term up to TWO (2) years, or with a fine of not less than âš2,00,000 (which may extend up to 10 times the value of goods), or both.
These numbers represent the millesimal fineness (percentage of pure gold): '916' denotes 22 Karat gold (91.6% pure gold); '750' denotes 18 Karat gold (75.0% pure gold); and '585' denotes 14 Karat gold (58.5% pure gold).
Comprehensive statute establishing the national standards body and product certification regimes in India.
Official single-window portal for BIS product certification, factory surveillance, and gold hallmarking.
Mandatory industrial operating permit issued under Section 6 and Section 7 of the Factories Act, 1948 by the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH) or Chief Inspector of Factories (CIF), approving plant machinery layouts, worker health, occupational safety, and hazardous manufacturing processes
Permission to carry out a particular trade or business at a specific premises
Registration for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises
Legal document confirming the formation of a company (Private Ltd, Public Ltd, LLP)
Goods and Services Tax registration for businesses
Mandatory statutory environmental permissions issued by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCB) and Pollution Control Committees (PCC) under Section 25 of the Water Act, 1974 and Section 21 of the Air Act, 1981, comprising Consent to Establish (CTE) before plant construction and Consent to Operate (CTO) before commercial production
Mandatory statutory operating license issued under Section 7 of the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act, 2005 (PSARA) by the State Controlling Authority (Department of Home Affairs), authorizing an enterprise to recruit, train, and deploy private security guards, armed escorts, and electronic surveillance personnel
Mandatory statutory pharmaceutical sales license issued under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945 by the State Food and Drug Administration (FDA) / Drug Control Department, comprising Form 20 & 21 (Retail Chemist / Medical Store) and Form 20-B & 21-B (Wholesale Pharmaceutical Distributor)
Issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
Manakonline - Bureau of Indian Standards â